Metal tie and rail-fastener.



A. ZIMM-ERMAN. METAL TIE AND RAIL FASTBNER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1913.

Patented Nov. 11, 191i;

inventor Aitorymy 0 Fig. 4

METAL TIE AND RAIE-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1 11, MM:

Application filed August 5, 191a. Serial No. "783,133.

1 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ApoNzo ZIMMER'MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ansted, in the county of Fayette and State of lVest Virginia, have invented a new and useful Metal Tie and Rail-Fastener, of which view'of the tie in the position itgissumes The present invention and claimed, changes in the section. Fig. 5 is a a specification.

relates to improve ments in metal ties and rail fasteners, one object of the present invention, being the provision of a tie provided with means for receiving the inner edge of the base flange of each rail and with manually the following is flangesto lock the flanges upon the tie, there being provided where the tie is used in con-- nection with a rail Joint, means for properly connecting the joints together and at the same time holding an electrical bond in osition where the rails are used as the return for the t-raiiic current, rendering the present device especially desirable in connection with mine railways.

A further object of the present invention' is the provision of a metallic rail tie and fastener, by means of which the rails are properly placed and held in position Without the employment of spikes or bolts, thus in reality producing a temporary tie which may be used as a permanent tie.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described it being understood that precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed Without ideparting from the spirit of the invention.

In the dravwings-Figure 1- is a top plan wh'efiin use. Fig. 2 1s aside elevatioii thereof dotted lines illustrating the position of the movable members, and the controlling lever when the rails are being positioned in place or, being removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the tie and. fastener with the lever in releasing position. is a top plan view of one end of the tie used in connection with a rail joint, the web of the rails at the joint being shown in section taken on line 5- 5 of Fig. 41. Fig. 6 is a View in elevation taken from the exterior side of the device as controlledmeans for engaging the outer edges of such shown iii-Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan view illustrading the presen invention in practice.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the two parallel-plates which are held, together by means of the two end bolts 2 and the central pivoting bolt 3, the two bolts Zhaving disposed thereupon a spacing sleeve 4. which as will presently appear, also provides a means for properly guiding tlie movable rail clamping members of the tie.

Formed at each end of the two plates 1 upon the upper edge thereof are the upstand ing cleats or lugs 5 which are shaped to receive one edge of the base ll of the rail 1Q while formed in the upper edge at a point slightly within the lugs 5 is a recess -(5 for the reception of one base flange 7 of the rail web el'igaging and bracing rail section 8. By this means a section of the rail, Whether a discarded rail or not, may be employed in connection with the present invention to be attached to this form of tie and engage the inner web of the rail as herein illustrated to brace the rail wherever necessary.

The hooked terminals 12 of the two rods 13 are disposed to be moved to and from the outer edges of the bases 11 of the two rails 10, their inner ends being pivotally connected at let and 14 above and below the pivot ing or fuloruming bolts 3 to the operating lever 15. This lever, when in the position as shown in dotted lines Fig. 2 and full line in Fig. 3, causes the relative movement of the hooked terminals 12 away from the base of the rail 10, but when used between the two plates 1 being moved toward the left as viewed in Fig. 3, draws both of the hooked terminals 12 toward and into engagement with the outer edges of the base flanges ot' the two rails 10, forcing the inner edges of the flanges into engagement with the lugs 5 and against the head of the bracing rail sec portion 9 and is held the plates-1 which constitute the tying means between the rails. It will thus be ture, that the rails seen that with this struccan be quickly positioned 1n place and that due to the clamping between the lugs 5 and the hooked terminals 11 of the clamping rods 13, the necessary longitudinal expansion due to temperature, is permitted in the rails.

The present tie is designed to be used as -tions 8. By this means it will be seen that the rail is braced below the head at the web properly anchored to ill a permanent or a temporary tie, and more particularly in connection with mining railways where the rails are continually extended and removed due to the finishing of old workings of the mine and the opening of new workings.

In order to provide a means for properly connecting the joints of the rails 10 and 10, as illustrated in Figs. l, 5 and 6, there is provided at one end of the two plates 1*, which are constructed somewhat similar to the plates 1, the diverging lugs or arms 16, which are provided with the rounded terminals 17 for passage through the apertures oi the copper bonding plate 18 and into the apertures 19 of the rail sections. By this means it will be seen that the rail joints may be properly positioned upon the receiving portions of the plates 1 with their flanges disposed adjacent the lugs 5, the cylindrical terminals 17 being disposed through the apertures of the bonding platel8 and the apertures 19 of the rail sections It), thus providing a means when the hooked portion 19' through its operating rod 18 is moved into engagement with the base ll, as shown in .Figg. 5 and (3. will properly hold the rail seated upon the lie and at the same time will bind the copper bonding plate 18 in proper position so as to render the rail electrically continuous. By this means, the bonding; plate is applied and held in position by the same means that locks the joints together.

ll'hcn the present. device is used in connection with mines, the sections of the rails being: usually feet long, it is not always practicable to mount the ends of the rails 10 at the desired distance from the head of the workings, therefore, the two ail sections 8, as show-u in Fig. 7, are clamped so that the sides of the heads thereof beyond the ends of the rails 10, will be projected to receive the wheels of the car, it being easy to release the rail sections Sand extend them successively as the coal is cut from the head of the workings. Vhen the sections 8 have been extended their full distance, two new sections 10 are then placed at the ends of the last sections 10 and the extension rails 8 mounted as before, so that such extension rails are in a position to be readily put in use as the occasion requires.

W'lrat is claimed is: 1. A rail tie and fastener, including two longitudinal plates, the ra l bearing portions of which are provided with means to receive the inner edges of'the hasesof two rails, two slidable rods each having a hooked terminal to embrace the outer edge of a rail base, and a lever pivoted between the plates and connected to the inner ends of the rods for operating therods.

2. A rail tie and fastener, including two longitudinal plates, the rail bearing por tions of which are provided with means to receive the inner edges of the bases of two rails, two slidable' rods, each having a hooked terminal to embrace the outer edge of a rail base, a lever pivoted between the pla es and connected to the inner ends of the rods for operating the rods, and means for holding the outer ends of the longitudinal plates spaced, said means also consti: tuting a guiding means for the free ends of the rods.

3, A rail tie and fastener, including two longitudinal plates, the rail bearing por tions of which are pr vided with means to receive the inner edges of the bases of two rails, two slidahle rods each having a hooked terminal to embrace the outer edge of a rail base, a lever pivoted. between the plates and connected to the inner ends of the rods for operating the rods. and two extension rail receiving means disposed one to each rod to coact with the main rails and the hooked terminals to be held to the lie.

4. fr rail tie and fastener, including two longitudinal plates, the rail bearing portions of which are provided with means to receive the inner edges of the bases ot' two rails, two slidable rods, each having a hooked term nal to embrace the outer edge of a rail base, a lever pivoted between the plates and connected to the inner ends of the rods for operating the rods, means for holding the outer ends of the longitudinal plates spaced, said means also constituting a guiding means for the free ends of the rods, and

two extension rail. receiving means disposed one to each rod to coact with the main rails and the hooked terminals to be held to the tie.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALONZO ZIIVIMERMAN. v

Witnesses l E. R. PAGE, RANDOLPH C. Pace. 

